very low ceilings
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Set Design and Construction
Forum Discription: Post your questions or suggestions about designing or building a set here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2111
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 5:38pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: very low ceilings
Posted By: Lionjill
Subject: very low ceilings
Date Posted: 11/08/06 at 9:26pm
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we have our productions in our church basement - which has low ceilings and no raised stage. Does anyone have any ideas on how to increase visibility? We have thought about having taller chairs for the back rows, but weren't sure whether we should try and build a short step for them or try to purchase bar stools (issues of price and storage with that option). If we had any kind of elevated stage it couldn't be over 4 or 5 inches - I can reach up and touch the ceiling right now. |
Replies:
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 11/09/06 at 1:39am
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I think you will have to apply the reasoning;- ?don?t raise the bridge, lower the river?. Could you rearrange the deck chairs & present a avenue / thrust staging. Rather than flat on seating & thereby reduce the depth of the rows, by placing them into a horse shoe on 3 sides of the acting area. [in the round] I feel you will have more problems with bar stool or with taller chairs, with the punters who are shorter at one end, than you could wave a stick at! You could always grade your audience by dressing the house military fashion, ?tallest at the back & shortest at the front?. Even rigging up a electronic light beam [LDR] height sensor alarm, at the house entrance &/or low tech hanging clearance bar across the aisle to the front rows. But it would need to be monitored by ushers "You can?t bend your knees sir to get under" or "Excuse me madam, you will need to take the wig off to sit closer!" If it is just a step height, it would be easy enough to knock together a step rostra, as you suggest or even just rake the back for a couple of rows. Obviously raking the stage is out of the question, unless you only use height impaired actors &/or rearrange the blocking with dressage for the warm props being the directing criteria. Back in reality I guess it would be around a 6? - 7? ceiling Or are you just exceptionally tall?  I doubt any of this would help! What type of ceiling is in the basement, is it a floating under cement type or just lined? ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: JShieldsIowa
Date Posted: 11/09/06 at 2:30am
| I worked with a theatre for a brief time that had the same issue. They tried the barstools, but they were a pain. Inevitably the people that would end up being the last to be seated older patrons. They still had to rearrange the audience. They ended up doing just as Gaafa suggests and arranged the audience in more of a 3/4 thrust configuration. It wasn't ideal, but was the only thing that really worked. Eventually they got tired of having to do everything in a 3/4 thrust and moved to a different location - but that isn't always possible (and will probably come with a different set of problems). |